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Community Service

The Alice Varnado Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning at Jackson State University, (the Harden Center), promotes all students toward improving the human condition through civic engagement. Through the Alice Varnado Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning, the university is able to continue to expand its role in cultivating and sustaining stronger communities. Your service in the community of a few hours a week will make a difference to people and the society. The immersion in another culture deepens your understanding of our society in a way that goes beyond your preconceived orientation. Serving in the community helps students learn what challenges communities face and see how their work furthers the communitys' goals. It also helps build valuable relationships with the people whom you serve. You can make a difference by supporting and contributing to meet a need in the community that affects the lives of the elderly, homeless, people with disabilities, schools, childcare centers and many other community organizations.

At Jackson State University, community service is more than a time-honored tradition, it’s a shared commitment by students, faculty and staff. Students and staff regularly donate their time and talent with the goal of making a positive difference at the university and in the community. The energy and interests of this vast network of generous individuals is organized to increase the capacity of all entities at the university through service. The Alice Varnado Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning is very committed to broadening a spirit of service throughout the university and the community.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS:Upcoming Event:

Ongoing On-Campus Opportunities:

Need service hours?Kids Kollege located in the Joseph H. Jackson College of Education and Human Development building is looking for volunteers to assist with this year’s after-school program. The after-school program will run from January 12, 2015, to May 22, 2015. Volunteers must be students of Jackson State University. For more information, visit Kids Kollege & sign up or you may contact Tierra Strong at (601) 979-2238.

Off-Campus Community Service Events/Opportunities:Keep Jackson Beautiful – Great American Cleanup Kick-Off at Rosemont Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. (meet at 3930 Officer Thomas Catchings Drive). To sign up call Marsha Hobson at (601) 398-5219 or send email to keepjack@bellsouth.net (put name of event in the subject line).

The Spencer Perkins Center is looking for volunteers to assist with their annual Easter Bash. The event will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at 1831 Robinson St. Jackson, MS. Volunteers are needed to assist with games, Easter egg hunt, relay race, etc. All interested persons should contact Ashley at ashleythaxtonspc@gmail.com. The event will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Methodist Rehabilitation Center need volunteers:The 2015 Walk & Roll is upon us, the date is Saturday, April 11th. Approximately 70 volunteers will be needed to help with the event. Anyone needing service hours are asked to assist. Letters will be given at the end of the event for community service hour. The event will be from 8:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. You may work in shifts or for the entire event. The walk and roll is an annual event that supports the mission of MRC. For volunteer forms, contact Robby Scucchi at 601-364-3474. Strides for Seizures 5K run/walk and 1 mile fun run coming up onApril 18, 2015. Volunteers needed to help with turns on the course, water stations, parking and various other things. Volunteers are to contact Tres Townsend at 601-936-5222 ext. 301 or ttownsend@epilepsy-ms.org. Office help also needed. .

Spencer Perkins Center – Summer Camp – June 8 – August 6, 2015 - The Spencer Perkins Center is looking for college interns to join them this summer to share and teach the children of the community. For more information: contact Ashley or Patrice by phone at 601-354-1563, or by email at ashleythaxtonspc@gmail.com.

Ongoing Off-Campus Opportunities:

Youth Solutions Need Volunteers:

PROJECT 1: Youth Solutions After School Program;

NUMBER of STUDENTS NEEDED: 6;

WORK NEEDED: Tutoring elementary & middle school youth

TIMES NEEDED: Mon.-Thur. 3pm – 5pm

INFORMATION: Must complete a volunteer application/background check

– Jackson location (information given to approved volunteers)

- Incentives given to consistent volunteers

- Must volunteer at least 1 hr a week and on time

PROJECT 2: The Youth Solutions "THINK TANK"

NUMBER of STUDENTS NEEDED: 3

WORK NEEDED: Tutoring elementary-high school students in Math, Science, English, & Reading

Bates Elementary School: Wanted: Academic Tutors – Library Assistants – Office Assistants – Computer Lab AssistantsBook Buddies: we are under an initiative to increase our fluency and reading level of 3rd grade students. We would like to get volunteers who are willing to come and participate in this endeavor. Each volunteer will need to receive a brief training and commit to at least once a week visits. All materials will be provided and the training is free. For more information contact, Joice E Johnson, Guidance Counselor at (601) 346-1416

Volunteers Needed at The Mississippi Museum of Art:Their spring exhibition will be starting on January 31, 2015, and they are hoping to get some awesome new volunteers to help out in the Visitor Services department as well as the Education Department. More specifically they are looking for volunteers to man their Welcome Desk and greet guests as they enter the building and help them become acclimated with the museum.They are also interested in getting volunteers for their Gallery Host program. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 p.m.to 5:00 p.m. They are especially interested in individuals who would be able to volunteer Tuesday – Friday, as they are short-handed on those days. Schedules and hours are flexible and they conduct onsite training to help familiarize and teach their volunteers more about the museum and its exhibitions. A copy of their Volunteer Information Sheet as well as the Volunteer Application can be found on their website at http://www.msmuseumart.org/index.php/support/page/volunteer or you may contact Emily Summerlin, Visitor and Membership Services Coordinator at (601) 960-1515.

Jackson Downtown YMCA is in need of volunteers in their Wellness Center as well as in their Daycare and with their Summer Camp. To volunteer contact, Rhonda Shidner, at (601) 948-3090.

The YMCA Metrooffice is looking for a volunteer that would come to their office located at 826 North Street, Jackson, MS, on every Thursday or Friday for a couple of hours to file and/or scan. If interested contact, Paula Boulanger at 601-326-4703 or email her at pboulanger@metroymcams.org.

Also, the Clinton YMCA need a volunteer to scan or file for the childcare director. If interested contact, Kiersten Seward at 601-924-5812 or email her at kseward@metroymcams.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters of MS, a non-profit organization, is seeking volunteers who will dedicate an hour a week to making a difference in the lives of children between the ages of 5 – 15 in the metro area. The Metro Area Program office is located in the Saks’ Fifth Avenue building at 3455 Highway 80 West, Jackson, MS, 39209. Please contact, Cheryl Walker, Metro Area Program Specialist at 601-213-6651 or email cwalker@bbbsms.org